Music City Beat: 'Anything goes' for Jason Aldean on new work

Jason Aldean is excited about the release of his new album, 'Night Train,' which is due in stores today.

Jason Aldean's highly anticipated "Night Train" album is due in stores today, and the singer says it is the culmination of the 13-year relationship between him and his producer, Michael Knox.

Knox is responsible for discovering Aldean and bringing him to Nashville. Now, he's the one who bears the burden of finding songs for Aldean's albums, and the singer couldn't be happier with the 15 tracks they recorded this go around.

"With every artist, over the years, you slowly and gradually dial into your sound and your image, and everything you do gets refined a little more," Aldean says.

"Here we are on the fifth record. We've had four other albums to practice on before this one. I think each time you can hear a difference in songs. It's like anything, the more you do something, the better you get at it, and the more success you have, the more comfortable you become in trying things maybe you were a little nervous to try before. With this record, I think we just said, 'All right, this is kind of an anything-goes deal.' "

Aldean's last album, "My Kinda Party," sold 2.7 million copies and won CMA's album of the year in 2011. He knows "Party" casts a large shadow, but he maintains that with "Night Train," he's not trying to compete with his last work.

"I think of it as a new project," he says. "I would be worried about that if I didn't feel like the record is great.

"I don't want to sound like I'm comparing my records to Michael Jackson, but Michael Jackson had 'Thriller' and he had 'Bad.' It's like, you can't top 'Thriller.' It's one of the best records of all time. But the 'Bad' record was pretty good, too. They're just two different things. We didn't go in to cut the 'My Kinda Party II' record. We went in to cut the 'Night Train' album."

- Cindy Watts, The Tennessean

Broadway, then arenas, for Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan is headlining the free Capitol Street Party 5 on Broadway on Wednesday, but the platinum-selling country singer has his sights set much higher - on arenas.

The first leg of the tour will kick off Jan. 17 in Evansville, Ind., and run through March.

"I have dreamed about this day for a very long time," Bryan said. "We are having the best time putting together all the bells and whistles for the tour. I have spent a lot of time out on tours with some really great artists, and each night we have tried to learn from them. I couldn't be more excited about this."

The initial 20-city run does not include a stop in Nashville, but the tour will visit Louisville, Ky., and Huntsville, Ala. Tickets go on sale Oct. 26. For a complete list of tour dates, visit www.lukebryan.com.

Local fans can catch Bryan for free Wednesday at when he headlines the street party. The show, which includes Jon Pardi and Kelleigh Bannen, is at 7 p.m. between First and Second avenues on Lower Broadway.

- Cindy Watts, The Tennessean

Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry team up for tour

Rascal Flatts has only four dates left on its 2012 Changed Tour, including Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Friday night. But on Monday, the trio revealed plans to carry the tour into 2013 with the help of a new support act: The Band Perry.

The sibling trio, who has spent the bulk of the past year on tour with Brad Paisley, will join Flatts for the winter leg of the band's tour on Jan. 10 in Green Bay, Wis.

The Band Perry's highly anticipated second album is due in stores next year, and a new single from the upcoming project is expected at country radio this fall.

Lisa Marie Presley does duet with dad

In honor of the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, Lisa Marie Presley has recorded a new duet with her late father, "I Love You Because," which hits the digital marketplace today. A music video for the song will premiere Thursday on CMT.

Producer T Bone Burnett suggested Presley record the song, which was included on Elvis' first album in 1956 but was never again performed by the rock legend.

Presley, who made her "Grand Ole Opry" debut in August and is currently on the cover of Nashville Lifestyles' "25 Most Beautiful People" issue, returns to Music City on tour next month.

She'll perform Nov. 5 at storied Nashville club Exit/In. Tickets are $20 and available at www.exitin.com.

- Dave Paulson, The Tennessean

Jason Crabb to visit 'Marie'

Middle Tennessee Christian music star Jason Crabb will pay a visit to the TV home of Marie Osmond on Thursday.

Crabb will perform "Someone Like You" on Osmond's new daytime talk show, "Marie," which airs at 11 a.m. weekdays on the Hallmark Channel.

Crabb will embark on a Christmas tour with gospel singer Sandi Patty next month, and he hits the high seas with the Crabb Family in January for the Crabbfest at Sea Cruise.

- Staff Reports

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Music City Beat: 'Anything goes' for Jason Aldean on new work

The 'Night Train' album is due in stores today, and the singer says it is the culmination of the long relationship between him and his producer.